DVD : A Place in the Sun

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Rating:

- A Place in the Sun
Paramount Studios presents a 1951 version of Theodore Dreiser's novel "An American Tragedy." A Place in the Sun is a six-time Oscar winning movie staring Cliff Montyomery as George Eastman, Elizabeth Taylor as Angela Vickers and Shelley Winter as Alice Tripp.
The poor country boy George Eastman sets out west following promises for a better job working for his rich uncle in LA. He is given a job in one of his uncles factories where 90% of the employees are women with only one rule, 'He is not allowed to date the other employees'. George feels as though he is an out cast, waiting for a shot at some real challenge, and finds it as he falls for a poor girl working at the factory. He falls in love with Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters) their love blossoms as very quickly, and she becomes pregnant and is unmarried. While just as she announced that she is pregnant George is introduced to Angela Vickers, the rich little girl, who is head over heals in love with him. Now George is caught between a rock and a hard place. George is uncertain of what he should do? Return to his pregnant girlfriend Alice Tripp, where he faces losing his job or explore his love for the rich and beautiful Angela Vickers. George is caught in a tragic love triangle without many options. It would be so much simpler with Alice Tripp out of the picture for ever.

Rating:

- A Place in the Sun
The movie "A Place in the Sun" was based on the best selling novel "An American Tragedy" written by Theodore Dreiser. This oscar winning movie had a great cast, Montgomery Cliff-as George Eastman, Elizabeth Taylor-as Angela Vickers, Shelly winters-as Alice Tripp.

This film dealt with many contraversal issues that not many people talked about in the 1950's. The first was the crossing of social boundiers from lower to upper class, this was not common during this time period. The second and much more contraversal was scence when George was at Alices home and the implacation of him spending the night. This was done by pointin g the camera out the window into the darkness, then showing the sun coming up and Georges car still sitting on the street in front of Alices house. This was a very effective way of impling that George and alice had sex. The conformation of this came a short while later in the film, as Alice tells George that she is pregnant. Being a unwed mother was unherd of during the 1950's. A woman would have been shamed to the point of needing to move to a new location.

Summary: George Eastman a poor man from kansas is promised a job from his rich uncle, all he has to do is move to the city. George is given a entry level job, and is warned that it is against company polices to date the woman who work there. George is also told to remember that he is a "Eastman". George goes to a movie where he sees Alice one of his co-workers. They start a relationship that tunes into a sexual affair. George then gets promoted by his uncle, and is invited to a party at the uncles house. While at the party he meets Angela Vickers a young attractive rich girl. George and Angela both have love at first sight. Angela gets George into the upper class party society. Then George finds out that Alice is pregnant. Alice tells George he must marry her or she well tell the newspapers and his family everything. What is George to do stuck between doing what is right and doing what he wants? You must pick this one up and find out, it is a must see for anyone who likes the classics.

Rating:

- What life could have been.
A Place in The Sun was released in 1951,it was filmed at Paramount studios. The film is 122 minutes long in clasic black and white. It was directed by George Stevens who won an oscar for his adaptation of Theodor Drieser's book "An American Tragedy". Montogemery Clift stars as George Eastman the poor cousin who comes to town to work in his rich uncles factory. Once he is there his cousin puts him at the lowest job, boxing swimsuits. 90% of the workers at the factory are women and and there is a strict rule against socializing between the men and women. On his first day George mets Alice Tripp played by Shelly Winters,who also boxes product. On a chance meeting at a movie the two of them plunge into a immediate romance and Alice ends up"In trouble, big trouble".George's uncle starts to take an intrest in him and promotes him. At the same time of his promotion George is invited to a party at his uncles home. At this party George meets beautiful, rich Angelia Vickers played by Elizabeth Taylor. They start dancing and immediately fall in love. George goes on to see both women and is torn between what he should do and what he wants to do. Alice is demanding to be married on Labor day weekend and Angelia invites George to her fathers home for a party.George goes to the party but is called away by Alice.This is when George makes a desicion that will impact what his life could have been.

Rating:

- unforgetable
In the 1951 film released by Paramount Studio Director George Stevens lets a story of how a young mans desires ruin him. George Eastman played by Montgomery Clift; his uncle, with really only one rule, gives the poor nephew of a rich business owner a job. You cannot date co-workers. He meets young women named Alice played by Shelly Winters and falls in love. Will a few months later he meets Angela Vicher a rich socialite and they fall in love. He is caught between the two women. And his life and there's never the same again. This movie shows us that we need to be careful for what we wish for, we may actually get it, and it may not be that good. This movie is for those you like to see the underdog lose.

Rating:

- Engrossing Drama - Still
I viewed this movie for the very first time three weeks ago. In watching it with a 03' mentality, I can see why courtroom dramas changed and the defendants whether they are guilty or innocent, 'lie' about the event in which they are being charged.

There are so many layers to this film that are still very engrossing, such as Clift's internal struggle between what he can have and what he wants to obtain - reality or dream. With Liz Taylor as the rich and beautiful dream girl who actually falls for him, makes his self inflicted circumstances all the more fateful.

The other layer to this film is the outstanding performance of Shelly Winters who makes the audience identify with her throughout the film. Although she is plain and working class, we can see that she is decent and no less a catch in her own right.

The DVD transfer is only o.k. The disc is film quality, but the film visibly shakes in a couple of scenes that is distracting. There is however, an enjoyable commentary by Stevens Jr. and Ivan Moffat who complement the technical with inside anecdotes.

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